When I first heard Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh speak about how meditation practices lead to mindful consumption, I made a commitment to engage in this practice. He said, “If the West stops drinking alcohol by 50%, there would be enough food to feed the world.” This really got to me and I have not […]
Lama Surya Das Speaks on Dzogchen
April 9, 2012 by
Lama Surya Das speaks on Dzogchen. He comes from the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and is an American from Brooklyn! He has been known to say, Dzogchen basically deals with the innate intelligence or intrinsic awareness which all beings possess. It means seeing non-dualistically rather than in the usual dualistic object-subject dichotomy. By definition, […]
Science Investigates Meditation Practices
April 9, 2012 by
Many people now know that science investigates meditation practices. The Dalai Lama has worked closely with Dr. Richie Davidson of the University of Wisconsin in convincing long time meditation practitioners and Tibetan monks to participate in Dr. Davidson’s research. Some monks have even left their caves to help the scientific investigations. This work has been […]
Engaged Buddhists Develop Wisdom and Compassion
April 9, 2012 by
The Dalai Lama and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) have shown that engaged Buddhists develop wisdom and compassion by selfless service to their communities. Both of these great minds have inspired thousands of people to get off of their cushions (or other meditation seats) and go out and serve the people. My teacher, Zen […]
What is the Main Obstacle to Meditation Practices?
April 8, 2012 by
When you first began meditating, you certainly will have noticed a lot of obstacles to your meditation practices. Is it the noise in your house? Is it the children running around in the neighborhood? Is it the dogs barking outside? Is is the traffic going by? What is it? What is the main obstacle to […]
Mindfulness of Anger
April 3, 2012 by
I have admired the wonderful writings of Andrew Olendzki, Ph.D. for the many years I have been reading Insight Journal, a publication of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Barre, Massachusetts where he is the editor. This article demonstrates the importance of mindfulness of anger in the face of confrontation. When serious anger is […]
Guided Meditation Practices
March 31, 2012 by
Our guided meditation practices at the Pine Street Clinic in San Anselmo, California begin with inviting the bell and an invocation that I wrote for this purpose: This life is the gift of the whole universe: the earth, the sky and many generations. May we learn to live in mindfulness in order to enjoy the wonders […]
Mahamudra Meditation Practices
March 28, 2012 by
I have not read too much about Mahamudra meditation practices. Sometimes articles appear in Shambhala Sun, Tricycle or Buddhadharma – all magazines I subscribe to. It is used in just about all forms of Tibetan meditation practices and much has been written about it. An Introduction to Mahamudra Meditation by The Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Geshe […]
Zen Meditation Practices Instructions
March 28, 2012 by
I did my first Zen meditation sesshin in 1972 at the San Francisco Zen Center with Zen Master Dainin Katagiri Roshi. A sesshin is a seven to ten day intense immersion in Zen meditation practices with instructions. Every now and then, you get to have a face to face meeting, called dokusan, with the Zen […]
Meditation Practices Lead to a Still Mind – Jiddu Krishnamurti
March 27, 2012 by
I have been a subscriber to Tricycle Magazine and receiving the Tricycle Daily Dharma for some number of years now. Many articles in the magazine talk about how meditation practices lead to a still mind. The magazines pile up in my cabinet after I complete reading everything from cover to cover except for most book […]
